Zydeco,
Turn the clock back to before you took your first cruise. If your TA had not mentioned Carnival, or had told you that Carnival probably wouldn't make you happy, you might never have cruised Carnival and would have been none the wiser.

My first cruises were not on Carnival (Holland, Princess, French, maybe others). I discovered them on my own via the Zydecocruise that got shifted to Carnival Inspiration after Commodore sank.

I have booked directly and through TAs. I don't think I have ever heard a Carnival PVP criticize TAs, but sure have heard TAs criticize PVPs and other TAs. I'm more than a little tired of the finger pointing.

And it doesn't seem to matter what Carnival does - many TAs are still giving kickbacks.